KIEV – Ukrainian authorities stated that they have begun evacuating of more than 200 locations in the Sumy region near the border with Russia.
So far, 52,000 people have been brought to safety, Sumy’s military governor, Oleh Hryhorov, said on Ukrainian television on Tuesday.
He said that this accounts for some 60 per cent of the total 86,000 civilians subject to evacuation in the settlements.
“We ensure transport, accommodation, as well as humanitarian, financial and psychological assistance,” said Hryhorov.
He did not specify when the evacuation is expected to be completed.
The Sumy region has been the site of heavy Russian attacks for months.
Military experts consider Sumy to be one of the targets of Moscow’s expected summer offensive.
Over the weekend, the Russian military attacked a minibus with a drone, which was supposed to bring Ukrainian civilians to safety, near the town of Bilopillya in the Sumy region.
Nine people lost their lives. (dpa/NAN)
